KHAOS-DEI carries the flag for French black metal, and has a commitment to making black metal which goes beyond nail gauntlets and bullet belts. Via faith in Left Hand Path beliefs, the band is aiming to reach greater spiritual heights, according to their promo material. Did they reach those dizzy heights? I'll answer that question below.

The "Prelude" sets the scene well with a sinister, scratchy, industrial-like intro. The drums are like a heartbeat, with a trumpet heightening the drama. And then, I felt like I was marching to some strange place, perhaps with bells tolling around me. A burst of caustic riffs opens "A L'Enfant Du Diable" and Nacht's vocals sound suitably demon-like. Damien creates some compelling drum fills on this track, and the bass drum goes at a machine-gun-like rate. I thought that the mix sounded a bit loud here, and elsewhere, but this was a minor quibble. Then I had a chance to catch my breath with short electro-infused interlude "Au Fond".

"Opus II: Catechism" is bleak, despairing and melancholy. But that doesn't mean it's a depressing affair - it's catharsis. While creating beauty from darkness is something often found in metal, this band does it in a way that stood out to me as a reviewer. It's hard to express what I mean in words. Perhaps what I mean is that KHAOS-DEI's music is not dark for the sake of it, but instead is a genuine outlet for particular emotions. The tracks on the second half of the album were particularly absorbing. "Une Armée Entière" opens with a huge drum roll, and an anguished howl from Nacht. He gives a particularly powerful performance on this track. Things take a hypnoptic turn with chants of "Ave Satanas", with a slower pace putting the listener into a trance - only for a cascade of fiery riffs to come crashing down. The sound of marching in the coda segues into "Prête à Servir", with its sombre violins and cellos; there's a sense that a turning point has been reached, one from which there's no going back. "Là Où Les Mots Ne Parlent Plus" is a grand number, and opens with a hard-hitting riff. Plaintive riffs sound, with interesting counter-melodies. Damien does some great work behind the kit here, with polyrhythms making an appearance. Soaring violins heighten the drama, along with resonant toms and sombre chanting.

I will have to go with a cliché here and call this album a tour de force. KHAOS-DEI have certainly produced a powerful opus, and I do think that they have reached the greater spiritual heights which they were aiming for.